Image Gallery

• Innovative next generation all-roader in premium SUV segment
• Strong early interest - 400 advance orders by end of June
• Upgraded global annual production goal: 80,000
• Five world firsts in an SUV

The launching of the Volvo XC90 is an integral part of Volvo Car Corporation's plan to secure profitable growth year after year.

"XC90 will increase our sales. It will take us closer to 500,000 units per year, a milestone on our challenging road to 600,000 cars", Hans-Olov Olsson, CEO for Volvo Cars says.

The original goal was to sell 50,000 Volvo XC90s per calendar year. Due to demand, production has been increased to an annual level of 80,000. Approximately 65 percent of these will be sold in North America. Europe represents approximately 25 percent and the rest of the world the remaining 10 percent.

Strong early interest

Local retail deliveries of the XC90 will start in earnest in third week of July. Already, there are some 400 orders, according to Volvo Car Australia's Managing Director, Steve Blyth.

"We have managed to secure additional production, so registrations by year's end should reach 700, factory capacity restricting additional volume in 2003. Our goal for 2004 is 1200 registrations.

Truck-based SUVs have been on the Australian market over many years, but the European concept of cross-over or soft-roader vehicles started in 1998.. Since then, the segment has more than doubled in size mainly due to the new European participants.

In 1998 cross-over vehicles like the Mercedes ML started to appear on the market. Since then, BMW X5, Lexus RX330, and Honda MDX have expanded the segment, with the Volvo XC90 one of the newest arrivals.

"In combination with the high-end versions of the traditional 4WDs, luxury SUVs represent a sizeable and growing market that we intend to tap into", says Blyth.

"The XC90 represents the next generation in this category and combines and adapts the best features from passenger cars and SUVs. In addition, the XC90 incorporates five world firsts in an SUV: Roll Stability Control (RSC), seat pretensioners on all seven seats, a child booster cushion, inflatable side curtains in all three rows and Premair, a system that converts noxious low level ozone into oxygen.

"Above all, this is a Volvo that is absolutely right for our market and is a key part of our growth strategy.

"Recent market research show that the customers view a luxury SUV as a natural development for Volvo. It also complements the XC70 perfectly."

"The XC70 and the XC90 make up the XC range, with each appealing to different customer needs, tastes and budgets. We expect the XC70, with its brilliant track record, to contribute to increased volumes along with the XC90.

"By 2005, we expect to be selling around 4000 Volvos. This goal is quite achievable. Growth through to 2005 will come from new and refined models as well as from the XC90 and the XC70, and the all-new replacement for the S40 and V40".

The XC90 2.5T is very competitively priced at $69,950, as is the T6 at $82,950. According to Blyth, the pricing/specification will make the XC90 the best-value premium SUV on the Australian market.

The opportunity with the XC90 is multi-facetted, adds Blyth. "We will attract five groups of potential customers: people who never considered a Volvo, 4WD owners wanting to trade up to a premium SUV, customers who have rejected SUVs due to safety and 'image' issues, customers who want seven forward facing seats in an SUV, and Volvo owners considering an SUV".

Design: Masculinity and Flexibility the Scandinavian Way

• Masculine design - but not macho

• "Cockpit forward design" - seven-seater capability

• Innovative flexibility

• Light, space and functionality

• Exterior styling accessories

"Masculine, but not macho; muscular, but not aggressive," is how the new Volvo XC90 was described by the then Chief Designer at Volvo Car Corporation, Peter Horbury. The muscular stance is the synthesis of a number of traditional yet unique Volvo features:

• the upright front with its dark, egg-crate grille

• the V-shaped hood, further emphasised on the XC90

• the broad, pronounced shoulders

• the characteristic tail lamps

"Nobody should be in any doubt that this is a modern Volvo," said Horbury. The muscularity of the Volvo XC90 is matched by chamfered corners front and rear, promoting a gentle, non-aggressive impression, helping the vehicle to look more homogenous.

"Cockpit forward design" Horbury referred to the "cockpit forward design" in the Volvo XC90, where the passenger compartment has been moved as far forward in the vehicle as possible, and where the sloping windscreen is positioned further forward than in most other SUVs.

This has allowed Volvo to make a seven-seater SUV within compact overall body dimensions. The Volvo XC90 is 4798 millimetres long, just 90 mm longer than a Volvo V70.

The tailgate on the Volvo XC90 has a rather sporty angle. The incline means that the roofline is truncated, making the vehicle look shorter, giving it a thoroughly modern sporty stance on the road. The tailgate splits into an upper and a lower half. The lower section can be used as a seat or table or can be stood on for loading purposes. The upper section is less likely to foul a carport roof.

The bumpers of the XC90 seem to embrace the vehicle and the tough, dark coloured, composite panels provide a protective cradle. This emphasises the vehicle's higher ground clearance and its SUV appeal.

Interior with a Scandinavian flavour The interior of the Volvo XC90 is characterised by airiness, space and quality materials.

The large glass panels allow plenty of light to enter the passenger compartment, and the cleanness of the layout and interior trim further boosts the feeling of space and elegance.

Facing the driver is one of the car world's clearest and most ergonomically designed instrument panels. It is characterised by Scandinavian simplicity of line and functionality: plenty of information from a small number of meticulously designed instruments. Compared with those found in a passenger car, the instruments and controls are angled slightly up towards the driver's eyes. Together with the high seating position, this enhances the feeling of control - the single quality that SUV buyers generally prize most highly.

The seats in the Volvo XC90 are designed to allow it to be easier to climb in and out of the vehicle.

Focus on flexibility The interior of the Volvo XC90 offers what is perhaps the greatest flexibility in the SUV class. Despite its compact dimensions, the vehicle offers generous interior space. The Volvo XC90 can be ordered either as a five-seater or in seven-seater configuration.

No matter which variant the customer chooses, both the second and third rows of seats can be folded down to create an entirely flat luggage compartment floor no less than 1.89 metres long, 1.13 metres wide and with a volume of 2404 litres (SAE).

The middle row of seats, designed like seats in a regular passenger car, has a three-part backrest to offer maximum flexibility. The middle seat in this row can be equipped with an integrated child booster cushion. In a 7-seater the child seat can slide forwards so that it is positioned partly between the two front seats, thus improving contact between the child and the parents in the front seats. The third row features two separate seats, offering full comfort for children or for adults of modest build.

"Everyone rides in Business Class in the Volvo XC90, nobody travels economy class. It is true that the third row isn't built for full-size adults, but a modern family rarely needs room for seven grown-ups in the car", concluded Horbury.

Exterior Styling For owners who want to reinforce the elegant, powerful image of their Volvo XC90, these items will be available as dealer-fitted accessories:

• Running Boards: Fitted along the sides and under the doors. The Running Boards, made of aluminium, protect the sills from denting during tough driving. They also become footsteps when climbing into and out of the car.
• Side décor: Colour-coded design kit that covers the front wheel arch, lower part of front and rear door and the rear wheel arch. Increases the sporty image of the car and protects the side of the vehicle.
• Skid plate: Fitted at the rear. Further enhances the rugged image of the Volvo XC90, and highlights the ground clearance of the vehicle.
• Roof ribs: Seven rubber ribs mounted lengthwise on the roof.
• Crossbars: Aerofoil-shaped design roof load carriers, which are an asset to the car's appearance even when no roof load is being carried. Made of aluminium for an exclusive impression.

Volvo XC90: Electronically Controlled All-Wheel Drive for Swift, Intelligent Activation

• Updated 100 times per second
• Superior take-off on difficult driving surfaces
• Enhances car-like qualities
• Interfaces with the traction and anti-skid control systems

The XC90's electronically controlled all-wheel drive system is completely automatic, and one of the most technically sophisticated systems on the market today.

By comparison with the earlier Volvo all-wheel drive systems based on a viscous coupling differential, the new AWD system is much more swift in its response. One of the front wheels need only start to slip through a seventh of a single wheel revolution for the system to divert more power to the rear wheels. This means that the new AWD system provides much better starting traction on difficult surfaces, minimising the risk, for instance, of the front wheels digging themselves into soft sand. The 'heavier' the driving surface is, e.g. wet sand or mud, the greater the difference and the advantages compared with the earlier system.

Normally, anything between five and 65 percent of the power is delivered to the rear wheels, depending on the driving conditions. Changes in the amount of power diverted to the rear wheels take place extremely quickly but smoothly, without the driver even noticing. Managing the distribution of power between right and left is the Traction Control System (TRACS), Volvo's traction system. TRACS intervenes when necessary by braking one wheel to increase the relative power to the wheel with the best traction. This means that the AWD system, working in conjunction with TRACS, can distribute power to the wheels, which have the best traction at any given time.

In more normal driving on good surfaces, the electronic AWD system further enhances the car-like qualities of the Volvo XC90. The steering precision is excellent even when accelerating hard - anything resembling torque steer is virtually eliminated by the rapid response of the new system in combination with the new precision steering gear from ZF. When the XC90 is being parked, the AWD system is controlled to prevent the front and rear axles from 'competing' for power at angles up to full lock, ensuring easy manoeuvring for the driver.

When the vehicle is braked, the system is deactivated so that the brake and ABS systems can function effectively, for high stability and short braking distances. Similarly, the AWD system is deactivated by the Dynamic Stability and Traction Control system (DSTC) if this performs any braking intervention to counteract skidding.

This is how Volvo's new AWD system works:

100 times per second, the electronic control system makes an 'intelligent' assessment of information from a number of different sources:

Wheel rotation speed (as measured by the ABS sensors)

• Throttle status
• Engine torque
• Engine speed
• Braking system

The system has three main parts: a hydraulic pump, which is actuated by differences in speed between the axles, a 'wet' multi-disc coupling, and a control valve with electronics. The whole coupling can be regarded as a hydraulic pump in which the pump housing and the ring-shaped piston are connected to one axle, while the piston control unit is connected to the other axle. When both axles are rotating at the same speed, no pumping takes place.

As soon as a difference in speed arises, the system starts pumping oil. Because the pump used is a reciprocating pump, its action is virtually instantaneous, avoiding the delay inherent in a slower type of pump.

The oil is pumped to a coupling piston, which compresses the multi-disc portion of the coupling, thereby reducing the speed difference. From here the oil is returned to a tank via an adjustable check valve, which controls the oil pressure, and therefore the pressure on the coupling discs. Electronic control means that the coupling responds ideally in a whole range of driving situations.

Environmental Standards: Among the Cleanest SUVs on the Market

• Among the cleanest SUVs on the market: ULEV and ULEV II
• Interior Air Quality System
• Öko-Tex standard 100
• PremAir® - the ozone-eater

Environmental care is one of the core values at Volvo Car Corporation. That is why the company was faced with an extra-tough challenge when it developed the Volvo XC90, since SUVs are relatively large vehicles with powerful engines.

"We know that many of today's SUV owners are uncomfortable about the fact that their vehicles produce higher emissions and consume more fuel than most passenger cars do," says Hans Wikman, Project Director, XC90.

ULEV and ULEV II The Volvo XC90 is one of the leaders in the SUV segment as regards both fuel economy and emissions. The 6-cylinder petrol engine meets the American ULEV (Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) requirements, while the 5-cylinder petrol engine already meets ULEV II, a standard that does not come into force until model year 2004.

What is more, the Volvo XC90 meets these standards in 50 American states, a clear demonstration that Volvo Cars regards the environment as equally important everywhere

In Europe, the petrol engines in the Volvo XC90 already meet the Euro 4 requirements, which come into force in the year 2005.

The low emissions and the fuel efficiency have been achieved through a number of interacting factors. Here are a few examples:

• All the engines are made of aluminium. This material is lightweight, which helps cut fuel consumption and thus emissions.
• The engines are of Volvo's latest low-friction generation. All the moving parts are designed to offer the least possible resistance.
• The cylinders' combustion chambers are designed to rotate the fuel/air mixture effectively and achieve high compression. This contributes to efficient combustion.
• Three-way catalytic converter.
• CVVT (Continuously Variable Valve Timing). This system adjusts valve timing to suit current engine revs and load, thus exploiting the engine more efficiently. This in turn reduces fuel consumption and emissions. The 6-cylinder biturbo engine, just like the 5-cylinder light-pressure turbo 2.5T unit, features CVVT on both the exhaust and inlet sides.

Interior Air Quality System
The Volvo XC90 also takes care of the environment inside the passenger compartment itself. The climate unit is supplemented with the automatic IAQS or Interior Air Quality System.

IAQS consists of a filter and a sensor. The former features a particle trap and an active carbon filter, removing particles such as pollen and unpleasant odours from the incoming air.

The sensor monitors the presence of substances such as nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons in the air entering the cabin. If concentrations are high, the recirculation function is automatically activated to prevent these pollutants from entering the passenger compartment. The system thus contributes to cleaner air inside the vehicle and reduces the risk of allergy-related problems.

Ökotex and PremAir®
All the textiles and leather used in the Volvo XC90 are certified according to Öko-Tex standard 100. Öko-Tex is a European standard used throughout the world, which safeguards that the textiles are free from hazardous and allergenic substances. Furthermore, the leather is tanned using natural plant substances and the interior door handles have a surface treatment that does not allow nickel contact with the skin.

PremAir®‚ is the name of Volvo's renowned "ozone-eater", and it is an important part of the overall environmental compatibility of the Volvo XC90. Ground-level ozone is formed through the combination of air pollutants and strong sunlight. It can cause respiratory problems in human beings and it also inhibits plant growth.

Volvo was the first carmaker in the world to tackle the problem of ground-level ozone, with the introduction of PremAir®‚ in 1999. The car's radiator is coated with a thin catalytic film that converts up to 75 percent of the ground-level ozone, as it passes through the radiator, into oxygen.

Volvo XC90 Awarded 5 Star Rating - According to Euro NCAP's Latest Crash Performance Survey

In an announcement yesterday by European consumer car safety organisation Euro NCAP concerning their latest survey, the Volvo XC90 has been awarded the highest mark - the 5 star rating.

EuroNCAP results from frontal and side impacts The Euro NCAP method evaluates the vehicle crash performance in a frontal impact and a side impact, including into a pole. In both cases, several factors including child restraints are considered.

The protection provided by the latter was "very impressive, meeting all Euro NCAP performance requirements", according to the safety organisation.

The overall conclusion by Euro NCAP on the performance of the Volvo was:

"The XC90 has an immensely strong body shell that provides a safe, well balanced occupant protection compartment for frontal and lateral (side) impact.

"Deformation and intrusion levels were minimal and the risk of chest injury from seat belt loads was low. The child restraints worked very well, meeting all the performance requirements. Pedestrian protection for this size of car was average."

According to the Euro NCAP test method there is minimal deformation of the footwell and door aperture and minor displacement of the pedals in the frontal impact and there is a small risk of injury to driver and passenger's knees.

In the side impact, the dummy readings were among the lowest recorded by Euro NCAP. The SIPS bag, airbag and Inflatable Curtain worked well in protecting the driver both in the side impact and the pole test.

The Volvo viewpoint: addressing the SUV problem Introduced in 2002, the Volvo XC90 is the first Volvo model to receive the highest number of international awards in the shortest period of time. Several of these have been general safety awards but the crash test, carried out by Euro NCAP, enabled the XC90 to physically prove its merits in an independent safety survey.

This was also done earlier this year when the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tested the XC90 and gave it its best marks and the title "Best Pick".

When conceiving and designing the XC90, great attention was paid to the "typical" and critical SUV areas of compatibility and roll-over accidents in order to face the challenge of building an SUV that would reduce this problem.

Roll-over prevention through roll stability control and roll-over protection are vital parts of the XC90's active and passive safety systems and the vehicle has accordingly been widely acclaimed for its innovative safety solutions such as Rollover Protection System (ROPS) and the Inflatable Curtain (IC) that protects all occupants in the vehicle including those on the third seat row.

Together with systems like the anti-whiplash WHIPS system and seven belt pretensioners, the XC90 offers an unmatched level of occupant safety. Much of this, however, is not taken into consideration through the current evaluation methods used by Euro NCAP.

So in short, the result of the Euro NCAP test method is an example of how parts of some of the safety systems in the Volvo XC90 perform in two types of crashes.

XC90 Prices, Specifications and Equipment

	2.5T	T6
Prices / main options
Price	$69,950 Automatic/ Geartronic	$82,950 Automatic/ Geartronic
Metallic Paint	$1,350	$1,350
Leather	$2850 (5 seats), $3250 (7 seats)	Standard on both 5 and 7 seats
Sunroof	$2,650	$2,650
Third row seats (complete system)	$5,100	$5,100
Engine/performance
Engine:	Five cylinder, 20 valve light pressure turbo petrol engine. Continually variable valve timing on exhaust side.	Six cylinder, 24 valve twin turbo petrol engine. Continually variable valve timing on exhaust side.
Location:	Front transverse	Front transverse
Drive:	All wheel drive	All wheel drive
Displacement	2521cc	2922cc
Power output	154kW at 5000rpm	200kW at 5200rpm
Torque:	320Nm at 1500-4500rpm	380Nm at 1800-5000rpm
Acceleration 0-100 km/h:	9.9 seconds	9.3 seconds
Top speed:	210 km/h	210 km/h
Fuel Consumption, litres/100km, city/hwy:	16.1/9.3	18.5/9.6
Transmission
Fuel Consumption, litres/100km, city/hwy:	16.1/9.3	18.5/9.6
Automatic:	5 speed adaptive Geartronic with winter mode	4 speed adaptive Geartronic with winter mode
AWD system	AWD system	Electronically controlled, active on demand
Steering
Standard system	Power assisted rack and pinion	Power assisted rack and pinion
Optional system:	Speed sensitive steering	Speed sensitive steering
Turns to lock:	2.7	2.7
Turning circle diameter:	12.5 metres	12.5 metres
Brakes - power assisted
Front	Ventilated discs	Ventilated discs
Rear:	Ventilated discs	Ventilated discs
ABS:	Standard	Standard
Electronic Brake Distribution:	Standard	Standard
Emergency Brake Assist:	Standard	Standard
Chassis
System	Front-wheel suspension with spring struts. Anti-dive anti-lift function. Multi-link independent rear-wheel suspension. Anti-roll bars front and rear. Dynamic Stability and Traction Control, DSTC. Roll Stability Control, RSC	Front-wheel suspension with spring struts. Anti-dive anti-lift function. Multi-link independent rear-wheel suspension. Anti-roll bars front and rear. Dynamic Stability and Traction Control, DSTC. Roll Stability Control
Load length capacity (mm)
Load length 5 seat/ 7 seat, at height of floor covering:	1118/571	1118/571
With rear seat down, at height of floor covering:	1894	1894
With rear seat and front passenger seat folded down:	2907	2907
Maximum trailer weight (braked):	2250 kgs	2250 kgs
Weight	1982/2046 kgs (5/7 seat)	2037/2101 kgs (5/7 seat)
Fuel tank
Capacity:	72 litres	72 litres
Ground clearance
Ground clearance from lowest point	218mm	218 mm
Approach angle	28 degrees	28 degrees
Break-over angle	20 degrees	20 degrees
Departure angle	25 degrees	25 degrees
Standard and optional equipment
S	Standard
O	Available at extra cost
N/C	No cost option
-	Not available
	2.5T	T6
Exterior colours
Solid paint	S	S
Black Stone
Ice White
Metallic paint	O	O
Nautic Blue
Silver
Ash Gold
Scarab Green
Black Sapphire
Ruby Red
Crystal Green
Exterior equipment
Mud flaps, rear	S	S
Roof rails	S	S
Roof spoiler	S	S
Black waist mouldings	S	S
Skid plate, front	S	S
Aluminium sump guard	O	O
Wheels and tyres
Alloy 7.0 x 17" Neptune, 235/65 tyres with Tempa spare	S	-
Alloy 7.0 x 18" Atlantis, 235/60 tyres with Tempa spare	O	S
Interior colours and trim
Siljan Textile/Vinyl (seats)	S	N/C
Off black
Oak
Leather (seats)	O	S
Off black
Oak/Arena
Trim
Inlays (glovebox lid, gear panel)
Standard trim	S	-
Wood		S
Aluminium	O	N/C
Piano black	O	O
Steering wheel
Leather	S	S
Wood with leather	O	O
Gear lever knob
Aluminium	S	-
Leather	O	S
Interior equipment
Electronic climate control	S	S
Cabin air filter, multi active with sensor	S	S
Adjustable lumbar support, driver and passenger	S	S
B pillar ventilation	S	S
Front seat, electrically adjustable with memory, driver	S	S
Front seat, electrically adjustable, passenger	O	S
Front seats, heated	O	S
Foldable seat backrest, driver and passenger	S	S
Third row seats (1)	O	O
Integrated booster child cushion, 2nd row seat	S	S
Rear seat, folding split backrest, 40/20/40	S	S
Armrest, front	S	S
Cupholders, tunnel console	S	S
Textile floor mats	S	S
Grocery bag holder, cargo area	O	O
Steering wheel, height and reach adjustable	S	S
Cruise control	S	S
Telephone, integrated with handset	O	S
Trip computer	S	S
Door mirrors, electrically operated, heated	S	S
Door mirrors, memory	S	S
Door mirrors, electrically retractable	S	S
Remote boot lid opener	S	S
Windows electrically operated, front and rear, auto up and down, driver and passenger	S	S
Power plugs, 12V, tunnel console, cargo area, and rear seat	S	S
Cigarette lighter	N/C	N/C
Sunroof, glass, electrically operated	O	O
PremAir, radiator coating	S	S
Audio and video
AM/FM stereo radio with CD player, 8 speakers, 4 x 40W amplifier	S	-
Dolby Prologic II Surround Sound System, 12 speakers, 4 x 70W amplifier + 25W for centre speaker	O	S
6 disc in-dash CD player	O	S
Remote control for audio in steering wheel	S	S
Diversity aerial system	S	S
Rear headset socket	O	S
Mini disc player	O	O
Subwoofer under load floor (3)	O	O
Security
Central locking, remote controlled incl. fuel filler	S	S
Childproof locks, electronic, rear doors	S	S
Door locks and revolving cylinders	S	S
Electronic immobiliser	S	S
Home safe and approach lighting system	S	S
Lockable wheel bolts for alloy wheels	O	O
Volvo Guard Alarm, with remote control	O	O
Inclination sensor for alarm	O	O
Movement sensor for alarm	O	O
Cargo area load cover	S	S
Lighting
Boot illumination	S	S
Courtesy illumination front and rear with delay	S	S
Dimmer, instrument panel	S	S
Footwell illumination, driver	S	S
Illuminated vanity mirror, driver and passenger	S	S
Automatically dimmed rear view mirror	O	S
Reading lights, front and rear	S	S
Foglights, front	S	S
Foglight, rear	S	S
Door mirror puddle lights	S	S
Hazard lights	S	S
Bi-Xenon headlights (4)	O	O
Headlight levelling system	S	S
Headlight cleaning	O	S
Side marker lights	S	S
Safety
Anti-lock Brake System, ABS, with Electronic Brake Distribution, EBD	S	S
Emergency Brake Assistance	S	S
Brake circuit failure warning	S	S
Central high mounted stoplight with LED display	S	S
Dynamic Stability and Traction Control, DSTC	S	S
Roll Stability Control, RSC	S	S
Park assist, rear	S	S
Automatic self leveling system	S	S
Front safety belts, automatic height adjustment and belt tensioner	S	S
Three-point inertia reel safety belts, pretensioners, head restraints and anti-submarining on all seats with load limiters on front seats	S	S
Collapsible steering column	S	S
Head restraints, with cushions, all seats	S	S
Airbag, driver and passenger, dual stage	S	S
Inflatable Curtain, IC	S	S
Side Impact Protection System, SIPS	S	S
SIPS bags, front seats, head and chest	S	S
Whiplash Protection System, WHIPS	S	S
Rain sensor	O	O
Rear window demister	S	S
Bulb failure warning	S	S
Warning triangle	S	S
Laminated side windows (5)	O	O
Infra-red reflective glass, windscreen, front doors (6)	O	O
First Aid kit	O	O
(1) Must be ordered with Headlight Cleaning.
(2) Not available with SUV tinting.
(3) When ordered with laminated side windows only windscreen is IR reflective.
(4) Including Third Row Inflatable Curtain, and auxiliary air conditioning unit, C pillar ventilation, and independent fore/aft adjustment of all 3 second row seats, additional cup holders and storage for third row.
(5) Not available with laminated side windows.
(6) 5 seat variant only

Unique Vehicle Architecture Gives Volvo a Competitive Edge

• More space
• Faster reduction of emissions
• The Volvo vehicle architecture gives obvious advantages to customers

Volvo Car Corporation began paving the way for the Volvo XC90 already in the beginning of the 1990s.

The Volvo 850, introduced in 1991, included a new power train concept, which still, well into the new millennium, gives every new Volvo a competitive edge.

The original concept included a transverse in-line five-cylinder engine, partnered with an extremely compact gearbox. An in-line six-cylinder engine was added with the introduction of the Volvo S80 in the late 1990s.

Three major benefits
While a traditional north-south orientation of the engine requires a longer engine bay, the transverse solution offers the designers more freedom without compromising Volvo's extremely stringent safety standards.

• This unique Volvo vehicle architecture makes it possible to maximize the interior space. For the XC90 it means 7 seats in a compact package.
• The in-line engine has a "warm" and a "cold" side. With the "warm" side facing rearwards, there is only one, short flow of exhaust fumes to the catalytic converter. This means that the emission reduction becomes more efficient.
• An SUV needs strong low-end torque - Volvo XC90 gives max torque already at 1500 revs/minute. The in-line engine is ideal for turbo charging, giving the opportunity to tailor the low-end torque for excellent takeoff performance.

"In recent years, this architecture has given us extra legroom in the rear seat of the Volvo S80, more luggage space in the Volvo V70, the dynamic coupe-look of the Volvo S60 and now it's time for the XC90", says Hans Wikman, Project Director Volvo XC90.

Seven seats where others struggle to seat five
Just like the S60, the XC90 has the cockpit forward design. The windscreen and the passenger compartment have moved forward - further than in most other SUVs.

"This means that we can provide added roominess within a given footprint, and the XC90 is compact for an SUV. It is just 9 centimetres longer than a Volvo V70 - and we can seat seven people in a space, where most competitors struggle to seat five. And we still have adequate room for luggage behind the third row", says Hans Wikman.

Chassis and Powertrain: Performance and Roadholding at Premium Level

• Ride and road holding on a par with passenger cars
• Emergency Brake Assistance
• Electronically controlled four-wheel drive
• Turbocharged engines - 154 kW and 200 kW
• Geartronic transmission with all engines

The Volvo XC90 is a vehicle designed for all types of roads, irrespective of the surface beneath the tyres or the weather conditions.

Even though it is not basically intended for off-road driving, the combination of electronically controlled four-wheel drive and 218 millimetres of ground clearance creates the right preconditions for continued progress when the going gets tough.

The feeling of safety that the high seating position gives the driver is supplemented with the knowledge that he or she can control the car with the help of instant, well-weighted response from the chassis, engine and brakes. Progress is thus more relaxed and comfortable.

The chassis in the Volvo XC90 is designed to give the vehicle the same ride and road-holding characteristics as a passenger car. It is based on the chassis of the Volvo S80, S60 and V70, cars which are renowned for their excellent road manners.

In the Volvo XC90, however, the suspension has been beefed up and dimensioned to handle heavier loads and higher ground clearance.

Well isolated rear suspension for quieter progress
The rear suspension of multi-link type is well isolated, with the dampers and springs attached directly to the sub-frame. This results in a quieter ride, since road and transmission noise is largely filtered out before it reaches the bodywork.

The front suspension is of MacPherson type and, together with the new ZF steering gear, promotes increased precision and sharp response.

The Volvo XC90 has an extremely wide track (1634 mm front, 1624 mm rear) and a long wheelbase (2857 mm between the front and rear axles). This makes for exceptional stability, with the vehicle behaving very consistently and dependably even on curving, twisting and uneven roads.

The 2.5T is fitted with Neptune 7.0X17" wheels and 235/65 tyre, the T6 with 8.0X18" Atlantis wheels and 235/60 tyres.

The braking system in the Volvo XC90 is dimensioned to help stop the vehicle safely, even when it is fully loaded with seven people and their luggage. This is achieved with an optimised brake system with EBA (Emergency Brake Assistance). This system monitors how quickly the brake pedal is pressed, and can thus determine if the driver is panic braking. In such a situation, the brake pressure is boosted to maximum in the shortest possible time, thus reducing the stopping distance.

Electronically controlled AWD
One important ingredient in the recipe for safe driving pleasure in the Volvo XC90 is its electronic AWD system, developed in close cooperation with one of the foremost experts in this area - Haldex of Sweden.

Just like in previous AWD models from Volvo, the four-wheel drive system in the XC90 operates entirely independently of driver input, that is to say power is distributed automatically between the front and rear wheels for best possible grip on all types of road surfaces.

The electronically controlled AWD system is intelligent. It monitors the vehicle's contact with the underlying road surface and assesses the signals that the driver delivers through the steering wheel, brake pedal and accelerator. This information then helps determine whether, and if so how, the system should respond. In normal driving on dry roads, almost all power is delivered to the front wheels. If the road surface causes the front wheels to lose traction, power is proportionately diverted to the rear wheels. With electronically activated four-wheel drive, AWD engagement takes place extremely quickly, after just one-seventh of a wheel turn, which eliminates wheelspin and ensures reliable road grip.

As a result, the AWD system in the Volvo XC90 has all the benefits of permanent four-wheel drive, without the accompanying disadvantages of heavier weight.

The electronic AWD system interacts in the Volvo XC90 with the active chassis systems DSTC - Dynamic Stability and Traction Control. This is an anti-skid system that automatically counteracts any initial tendency towards a skid before the driver even has time to notice. The system continuously compares the vehicle's direction of progress with the driver's steering wheel movements. If the vehicle shows any tendency to start skidding, the brakes are instantly applied to one or more wheels as necessary until the vehicle stabilises and the skid is avoided.

DSTC also includes an anti-spin system that automatically brakes the wheel that spins, so that drive is diverted to the wheel with the best grip whilst also controlling the engine torque.

Engines for every need
For Australia, the Volvo XC90 will come with a choice of two engines, both made entirely of aluminium:

• An in-line 6-cylinder petrol engine with a displacement of 2.9 litres, equipped with twin turbochargers. It produces 200 kW and has no less than 380 Nm of torque from just 1800 revs/min. 0-100km/h takes 9.3 seconds and the top speed is limited to 210 km/h. Fuel consumption is 18.5 litres/100 kms (city), 9.6 litres/100 kms (highway).
• An in-line 5-cylinder 2.5 litre petrol engine with a light-pressure turbocharger. It has a power output of 154 kW and torque of 320 Nm from 1500 revs/min. 0-100 km/h takes 9.9 seconds and the top speed is 210 km/h. Fuel consumption is 16.1 litres/100 kms (city), 9.3 litres/100kms (highway).

Both engines come from Volvo's passenger car range, but they have been re-profiled to suit XC90.

The 6-cylinder engine is the same unit that powers Volvo's largest sedan, the S80 T6. It has a parallel turbo system - two small and highly efficient turbochargers that are installed alongside each other. They are driven and fed by three cylinders each.

In the Volvo XC90, the T6 engine's displacement has been enlarged from 2.8 to 2.9 litres and it is equipped with variable valve timing or CVVT on both the inlet and exhaust sides. CVVT adjusts valve timing to suit the engine's current revs and load, and it thus exploits the engine more effectively, reducing fuel consumption and emissions.

One of the most important results is that maximum torque is available from just 1800 revs/minute, compared with the 2000 revs/minute of the 2.8-litre version.

Best of two worlds: Geartronic
The Volvo XC90 T6 has 4-speed Geartronic automatic transmission as standard. With Geartronic, the driver gets the best of both worlds: on the one hand, the transmission can be left to take care of gear changing entirely automatically, or the driver can over-ride the system to change gears manually without a clutch pedal.

The automatic transmission is adaptive, which means that it monitors the driver's driving style and adjusts the gear-changing pattern accordingly. It also features a "W" setting for winter driving on slippery surfaces. Here, the car starts off in a higher gear to avoid wheelspin and loss of control.

The 5-cylinder light-pressure turbo engine now reaches its maximum torque of 320 Nm from just 1500 revs/minute, giving the XC90 excellent starting characteristics. This has been achieved with a longer piston stroke, increasing engine displacement from 2.4 to 2.5 litres. This change is matched by a somewhat smaller turbocharger, which steps into operation a bit earlier. Like its bigger sibling the T6, the 2.5 litre engine has Dual CVVT.

In the 2.5T, the 5-cylinder light-pressure turbo engine is equipped with the 5-speed Geartronic automatic transmission.

Safety: the Sights are Set on Leadership

• Roll Stability Control
• Special steel in a reinforced roof structure
• IC (Inflatable Curtain) - for all three rows of seats
• Lower cross-member for increased car-to-car compatibility

Customers expect Volvo to retain its lead in the field of safety - irrespective of vehicle type. With the launch of its first-ever SUV, Volvo Car Corporation enters an entirely new segment, and the goal is perfectly clear: to lead the way in terms of safety.

As in all other Volvo models, safety in the Volvo XC90 is a holistic concern. Safety is never achieved by simply adding a number of individual stand-alone features into a car: what is important is the interaction between them - it is this interplay that shapes the result.

This holistic approach is - and always has been - one of the corner stones of Volvo's safety philosophy. With the entry of Volvo Cars into the SUV market, there is increased focus on several new areas. One of them is rollover accident, where the vehicle rolls over onto its roof one or more times.

Roll-over Protection System
Volvo's Roll-over Protection System, ROPS, tackles the problem from two directions:

• a stability-enhancing system, RSC (Roll Stability Control), which minimises the risk of rolling over in the first place
• increased protection for the occupants if the vehicle does roll-over

Owing to its higher centre of gravity, an SUV may have a higher risk of rolling over in certain critical situations compared with a conventional passenger car. That is why the centre of gravity in the Volvo XC90 has been kept as low as possible compared to most SUVs. In fact, it is just 89 mm higher than that of the Volvo XC70.

However, this does not mean that Volvo has compromised on one of the properties that SUV buyer's value so highly: a commanding seating position. The front seats are no less than 165 millimetres higher than in the Volvo XC70.

Roll Stability Control
In order to help reduce the risk of a rollover situation, the Volvo XC90 is equipped with an active stability-enhancing system known as Roll Stability Control or RSC. The system uses a gyro-sensor to register the car's roll speed and roll angle. Using this information, the terminal angle is instantly calculated and thus also the rollover risk.

If the calculated angle is so great that there is an obvious risk of rolling over, the DSTC (Dynamic Stability and Traction Control) anti-skid system is activated. DSTC responds by reducing the engine's power and also by braking one or more wheels as necessary until the car understeers and stability is regained.

This helps reduce the risk of a rollover accident initiated by extreme manœuvres. RSC is the only active stability-enhancement system on the market to measure the car's roll angle.

Special steel in a reinforced roof structure
If the Volvo XC90 experiences a roll-over the passive safety systems step in.

The goal is to reduce the risk of the occupants' heads from coming into contact with the car's interior roof panel or sides. Volvo has reinforced parts of the roof structure in the Volvo XC90 with extremely tough Boron steel, which is four to five times stronger than normal steel.

All the seats (including the third row when fitted) are equipped with seat belt pretensioners to hold the occupants securely in place. In an accident, the pretensioner pulls the seat belt firmly across the occupant's body in order to help provide maximum protection.

In order to help prevent the head from striking the car's sides, the Volvo XC90 is equipped with Volvo's IC or Inflatable Curtain. IC also helps prevent the occupants from being ejected in an accident.

The Volvo XC90 has a version of IC that is specially adapted to deal with rollover accidents.

This means that it stays fully inflated for longer so as to offer maximum protection in a multiple roll-over scenario. What is more, the curtain is folded in its cassette in such a way that it follows the contour of the window glass as it inflates. If the occupant's head is resting against the window at the moment of inflation, the curtain will thus slip between the glass and the occupant's head to provide enhanced protection.

In the Volvo XC90, the IC protects all three rows of seats in the 7-seat version.

Selfless compatibility
The problem of compatibility - when an SUV collides with a car that sits closer to the road surface - was in firm focus throughout the development of the new Volvo XC90. The typical SUV has a high ground clearance and thus often comes with high-positioned bumpers. This may create a greater risk of damage to the oncoming passenger car and more serious injuries to its passengers, since the lower car's protective beams and crumple zones simply slip below the front of the SUV without being activated.

In order to reduce the risk of this type of injury, the front suspension subframe in the Volvo XC90 is supplemented with a lower cross-member, positioned at the height of the beam in a conventional car. This lower beam is integrated into the XC90s structure and is neatly behind the bumper line.

This construction reduces risk of injuries in frontal collisions as well as in rear-end impacts and side impacts. The lower cross-member strikes the oncoming car's protective structure, activating its crumple zone as intended so the occupants can be given the maximum level of protection.

During the development of the Volvo XC90, considerable attention was also paid to the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and other relatively unprotected road-users. The entire front of the car features clean, gentle and smooth lines, and there are no protruding parts which may cause enhanced injuries.

The engine in the Volvo XC90 is installed low in the vehicle. As a result, the bonnet has no less than 80 mm of deformation space before there is any contact with the engine below it. It thus serves as a soft impact-absorbing "bumper", reducing the risk of serious injury to a pedestrian who may be thrown onto the bonnet.

High safety level in the third row of seats
The Volvo XC90's third row of seats provides a high level of passenger safety. There is generous space behind it, so collision force in a rear-end impact can be effectively absorbed and dissipated.

The occupants of the rearmost seats sit just above the rear axle, which is the optimum position in terms of side-impact safety. These seats also feature belt pretensioners, head restraints and, as already mentioned, the Inflatable Curtain or IC.

The front airbags are of the dual-stage type, with a sensor that monitors the incoming collision force and adjusts the airbag's inflation accordingly.

WHIPS, Volvo's award-winning Whiplash Protection System, is fitted in the two front seats of the Volvo XC90. WHIPS is activated in the event of a rear-end collision from speeds as low as 15 km/h, helping to reduce trauma on the spine and neck and thus reducing the risk of injury.

Reverse Parking Assist
The public concern in Australia regarding the risk to children or small adults being exposed to danger in situations where SUVs are reversing is answered by Volvo Car Australia with the decision to include reverse parking assist as standard. This radar-actuated aural system warns the driver with a loud and more and more insistent signal that he/she is getting closer to a child who is out of line of sight. Apart from the human element, reverse parking assist mitigates against damage from hitting a rigid object.

Awards for XC90 Keep Rolling in

Eight months after the XC90 first went on the market in Europe and the USA, the awards keep coming in. The XC90 has also been bagging top marks in a number of road test comparisons in UK and German motoring magazines against its German competitors. The number of awards is now 23. The list is shown in alphabetical order.

2003
Canada	XC90 - Pyramid Award/Safety Innovation (ROPS)	Canadian Automobile Association
Sweden	XC90 - Design Prize	Association of Engineering Industries, Svensk- Form & Foundation of Swedish Industrial Design
The UK	XC90 - Best 4X4 2003/Top Gear Car of the Year	Top Gear Magazine
The UK	XC90 - Best 4X4 Car of the Year 2003 awards	What Car? Magazine
The US	XC90 - Best Family Vehicle of the Rockies	Rocky Mountain Auto Press
The US	XC90 - Best Engineered Vehicle for 2003	Automotive Engineering International
The US	XC90 - Best Winter Vehicle	New England Press Association
The US	Best of the Best for 2003 - Car of the Year	Automondo Magazine
The US	XC90 - Truck of the Year in North America	North American Car of Year Jury
2002
Canada	XC90 - Best New Sport Utility over $45,000	Automobile Journalists Association
Canada	XC90 - SUV of the Year	Guide L'Auto Magazine
Germany	XC90 - Most important (foreign) innovation	Auto Trophy, Auto Zeitung
Italy	XC90 - World's most stylish multifunctional vehicle	L'Automobile più Bella del
2002
Italy	SUV category	Mondo (Automobilia)
Spain	XC90 - 2003 Offroad Car of the Year	Car & Driver Magazine
The US	XC90 - Urban Truck of the Year	African Americans On Wheels
The US	XC90 - Best in Class/Most Versatile	American Woman Road & Travel
The US	XC90 - Truck of Texas (Texas Truck Rodeo)	Texas Auto Writers Association
The US	XC90 - SUV of the Year Award/Mudfest Champion	North West Automotive Press
The US	XC90 - Best new SUV	Kiplingers Personal Finance
The US	XC90 - Auto Spies 2003 SUV of the Year Award	Autospies.com Editors Award & Peoples Choice
The US	XC90 - SUV of the Year (2003)	Motor Trend magazine
The US	The US	World Traffic Safety
		Symposium Manufacturer's Award
The UK	XC90 - 4X4/SUV Award and Safety Award	Institute of Vehicle Engineers Motor Show Design Awards 2002

Steve Blyth

Steve Blyth has been Managing Director of Volvo Car Australia since June 1. For six years he held key management positions in Volvo sales companies. His last job was Director, Customer Service, Volvo Car Taiwan. Prior to that, he was Vice-President, Sales Operations, Volvo Car Thailand and before that, Business Development Manager, Volvo Car Korea.

In these positions, Blyth has achieved considerable gains in sales and customer satisfaction and he has shown himself competent in building strong retailer relations and networks.

"I first entered the automotive industry in Australia 15 years ago working for a Melbourne prestige car retailer. The car business is in my blood", says Blyth. Even as a young boy, I was always tinkering with cars.

"I'm passionate about Volvo and committed to making the Volvo business in Australia grow. We have a fantastic product line-up with even more to come next year, but we need to communicate the 'new Volvo' better, not only to all potential buyers, but also to our retailers.

"Australia is a unique market and I'm delighted to add an Australian perspective to the MD's role. Returning to Australia after six years away, I am looking forward to catching up with family and friends. I've missed the opportunity to camp in the bush, to surf and go motor bike riding."

Melbourne-born and forty years old, Blyth holds degrees in Commerce (Law and Economics) and in Asian Studies. He has participated in Volvo's Global Leadership Program at the London School of Business. He is the first Australian MD for Volvo Car Australia since it was established in 1990.

Lars Ljungstrom

Lars Ljungstrom is a veteran of the Volvo business. Ljungstrom was born in 1953 in Gothenburg, which destined him to work for Volvo, which he has done for the last 18 years.

With tertiary qualifications in business, Ljungstrom has worked with sales and marketing for most his life. In addition to his formal studies he has spent considerable time on private studies in car technology.

For a number of years, Ljungstrom worked at Volvo Car Corporation in Public Relations, developing press material, presenting new models to the media at press launches, including organising drive programs.

He has also worked as a product and technical specialist within Market and Product Planning at Volvo. Over the years he has done product presentations on virtually every new model.

Over this time, he has become "Mr Volvo" at new model launches in Sweden, and other markets. Because of his wide-ranging brief, working for many different Volvo companies, some years ago, he found that it was easier for all these companies to "use" him in a contract/consulting capacity, performing this role in markets like Sweden, UK, USA and Asia/Pacific.

Ljungstrom develops competitor comparison analyses for Volvo Car Corporation and the markets. He prepares and presents courses in Volvo and competitor product knowledge as well as general car technology for sales/marketing personnel and technicians.

"I have played with cars all my life and still do", says Ljungstrom. "I have had the opportunity to drive a lot of exciting cars, like Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Aston Martins to mention but a few and owned and raced some sports cars of which my all time favorite is the Ferrari Dino 246 (1970). I am a passionate car enthusiast."

"I earlier worked as an editor for Sports Car, a magazine that covered sports and racing cars. During this period I came in contact with the Swedish motoring journalists and the public relations people from the different car manufacturers/importers, experiences, which have been valuable in my work with PR-related matters at Volvo.

"My after-hours interests are - apart from motor cars, swimming, snorkeling, dinghy sailing and surfing, as well as long board skateboarding and exercising. I play the guitar and am very interested in photography. Philosophy and religion are also big interests."

General Volvo Price list effective 6 May 2003
	Manual*	Automatic/ Geartronic**
S40
2.0	$39,950.00	$41,950.00
2.0 SE		$47,950.00
2.0T		$51,950.00
Aktiv		$44,450.00
V40
2.0	$41,950.00	$43,950.00
2.0 SE		$49,950.00
V40 2.0T		$53,950.00
Aktiv		$46,450.00
S60
2.4	$49,950.00	$52,450.00
2.4 SE		$56,950.00
AWD		$68,950.00
V70
2.4 SE	$59,950.00	$61,950.00
Titanium		$63,950.00
XC70
		$68,950.00
XC90
2.5T		$69,950.00
2.5T 7 seat		$75,050.00
T6		$82,950.00
T6 7 seat		$88,050.00
C70 Convertible
C70 Convertible		$98,000.00
S80 T6
		$98,950.00
* Manual transmission where not stated is a no cost option (Not available on Aktiv, Titanium, S80, or XC90)
** Five speed Adaptive Automatic or Geartronic available depending on model (four speed Geartronic on S80, and XC90 T6). Prices do not include statutory, dealer and on-road costs. A wide range of options are available including metallic paint from $1,050 and sunroof from $2,150.